April 28, 2013

Spring in Connecticut

It's a tentative spring in Connecticut. The beautiful yellow magnolia 'Elizabeth' isn't quite ready to open yet, but oh how she wants to!

How tightly she holds onto those vulnerable buds. We are still getting temperatures in the 30s at night, so she's wise to keep everything tightly closed up. Soon, though.

The Japanese maple 'Orange Dream' is holding its leaves furled up against cold nights. The foliage opens a bright orange with red tints, looking like a soft copper haze from a distance, but fiery orange up close.

While we wait for this tentative spring to make a move, here's what else is going on:

Jim and I are walking in support of Foodshare in Hartford on May 5, and if any of you wonderful bloggers and gardeners out there want to donate for our effort, I would love it. Foodshare helps people all over central Connecticut who need assistance feeding their families.

Connecticut may have a reputation as a wealthy state, and that is true in a few pockets of privilege and comfort. But in most of the state there is the same need as everywhere else -- hard times are found here.

We are a very small state geographically (48th -- only two states are littler) but with over three and half million people in our small area we rank 29th out of 50 states in population. We're a little crowded, but we still have woods and open areas of great beauty around us.

With that many people, though, you know there are some who will need our assistance and no one should go hungry, anywhere, ever.

Thanks! If you decide to donate, you have my greatest appreciation.

Now, if you could just get spring to hurry up and come to Connecticut. The grass is greening, but the trees are still a little reluctant.

Reluctant is right, Laurrie. And the maples are the poster trees. Strange to have a year when leaves just don't want to face the chilly nights in almost-May. And lest you and I think we're the only Nutmeggers marveling, every Connecticut gardener I've talked with says the same.

I'm luxuriating in this spring! All the spring bloomers are lasting so long. Perennials are taking their sweet time emerging from their winter nap giving me plenty of time to gleefully move and divide them. Every night I come home from work and head out to the garden. I took Friday off and went to six nurseries, this morning three more. Somebody pinch me!

Good for you for walking for Foodshare. I prefer to keep the bulk of my charitable giving local and they are one of my favorite local charities.

Hi Laurrie....This year has had such strange weather. We've had three late frosts. The yellow buds are beautiful and the color of that Maple is just unreal...it's like the bush is on fire!! Hope spring comes to stay soon!

Christy, Spring will arrive, but part of the reason it is so slow is not just cold weather, but dryness. We are 50% of normal precipitation and that is holding back everything from bursting out. Need rain!

Sorry about requiring code verification -- I experimented with turning it off to make commenting easier, and I got too much spam. Thanks for taking the time to comment, and to type in silly codes. I appreciate hearing from you.